Nutrient - Magnesium may help curb high blood pressure

By Holly Taylor BSc(Hons) DipCNM MBANT

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure of greater than 140 and 90mmHg. It is considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, one of Europe’s biggest killers.

Evidence from a new study conducted in Korea suggests magnesium may help to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, even if they seem to have normal magnesium levels. According to the researchers: “These finding suggest that magnesium supplementation may help prevent the progression of hypertension.” The study adds to findings from other scientific studies, which reported that magnesium, potassium and calcium may help reduce the risk of hypertension in certain populations.

Since very little is known about how magnesium may effect blood pressure, the researchers recruited 155 people to take part in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either daily supplements of 300mg of magnesium or dummy pill for 12 weeks.

At the end of the study, the hypertensive patients taking the magnesium supplements showed a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, compared to those taking the dummy pill.